A92141:149
Influences of the life of grace
Influences of the life of grace. Or, A practical treatise concerning the way, manner, and means of having and improving of spiritual dispositions, and quickening influences from Christ the resurrection and the life. By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.Influences of the life of grace. Or, A practical treatise concerning the way, manner, and means of having and improving of spiritual dispositions, and quickning influences from Christ the resurrection and the life. By Samuel Rutherfurd, Professor of Divinity in the Vniversity of St. Andrews in Scotland.
London: printed by T.C. for Andrew Crook, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now what Familists and Libertines may object on the contrary should be heard.
Obj. 1. We are never to take the Name of God in vain, but to pray without the acting of the Spirit is to take the Name of God in vain.
Ans. The Antecedent is true; we are never to take the Name of God in vain, nor obliged to any sin: but the Consequence is naught; therefore we are not to pray, nor obliged to pray, except the Spirit either by disposition facilitate us, or actually move us; For the disposition or actual motion of the Spirit, is neither our Rule, nor a part of our rule. For 1. The command to pray is the common obliging Rule to both Elect and Reprobate, and obligeth all equally; but neither the spiritual disposition, nor the saving acting of the Spirit so equal to all is our Rule. 2. The command is exposed to every one to make use of it as he ⟨p. 28⟩pleaseth;1 but the saving acting of the Spirit is not in every mans power. 3. The command is a Rule and Object of our Faith, and gives me not strength to obey; but the heavenly disposition and saving acting are not the object, but the efficient cause which addeth strength to obey: the command craves the debt; its true, its impossible to pray in faith without the acting of the Spirit; it follows only that its so impossible that we are also guilty and unexcusable in our virtual desiring that it may be so. We are wounded but we love to shed our own blood. As also in the Regenerate there is never an utter withdrawing; the habit of grace keeps the heart warm, and loves to be blown upon and stirred, even under actual ceasing of breathings.
Ans. The Antecedent is true; we are never to take the Name of God in vain, nor obliged to any sin: but the Consequence is naught; therefore we are not to pray, nor obliged to pray, except the Spirit either by disposition facilitate us, or actually move us; For the disposition or actual moion of the Spirit, is neither our Rule, nor a part of our rule. For 1. The command to pray is the common obligig Rule to both Elect and Reprobate, and obligeth all equally; but neither the spiritual disposition, nor the saving acting of the Spirit so equal to all is our Rule. 2. The command is exposed to every one to make use of it as he